Month: April 2026

I watched a board spend six months trying to fill two open seats. Six months. Just… two chairs at a table. They had two names. That was the list. Not a shortlist. Not a pipeline. A list. Of two. One declined after doing a little homework.(The polite version of “this doesn’t feel right.”) The other…

Good governance rarely makes headlines. But its absence destroys everything. When boards govern well, you almost don’t notice. There’s no drama.No scandal.No crisis. Programs run. Leaders are supported. Decisions are made with care.Communities are served. Trust accumulates quietly. And nobody writes a press release about it. This is what I want people who join nonprofit…

Most nonprofit boards don’t struggle because people don’t care. They struggle because people say yes too quickly. Yes to a mission they believe in.Yes to people they trust.Yes before they fully understand what they’re stepping into. And by the time they figure it out… They’re already in. If you’re thinking about joining a board, ask…

Here’s what I’ve learned working with small-town and rural nonprofits: They can raise significant funding. Sometimes faster than larger organizations. Why? Because of: → Strong relationships→ Deep community trust→ Shared ownership of outcomes But those strengths only work… …when they’re activated correctly. A capital campaign isn’t powered by announcements. It’s powered by: Alignment before visibilityCommitment…

(and pay for later) When a capital campaign launches too soon, it’s rarely random. There are patterns. Here are 5 things I consistently see overlooked: 1) A real roadmapNot hope. Not enthusiasm.An actual plan for how funds will be raised.Not in theory. In sequence.It takes time. 2) Stakeholder commitmentPeople say they support the project… …but…

The Core Problem (Ignorance + Urgency) In my experience, two forces drive most premature capital campaigns: 1) Misunderstanding2) Urgency Let’s start with misunderstanding. Many boards think: “We already fundraise… how different can this be?” Very. A capital campaign funds what your operating budget can’t. Which means: → New strategy→ New donor expectations→ New systems→ New…

A nonprofit leader asked me a simple question recently: “Why do organizations start capital campaigns too soon?” It’s a great question. Especially in small towns and rural communities… …where excitement builds fast …and announcements hit the newspaper even faster. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Most organizations don’t start too soon because they’re reckless. They start too…

You won’t know what kind of board you’re on… until something goes wrong. Every nonprofit will face a crisis. Financial shortfall.Leadership transition.Public controversy.An unexpected external shock. And here’s what I’ve observed—both as a board member and a nonprofit founder: Boards that governed well before the crisis navigate it far better than those that didn’t. Crisis…